Tone adjusting means for brass wind instruments



March 20, 1956 s. RITTERBACH 2,738,696

TONE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BRASS WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed NOV- 5, 1952 mINVENTOR. 3 01 SIEGFRIED RITTERBACH HIS AT TOREEYS United States PatentTONE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BRASS WIND INSTRUMENTS Siegfried Ritterbach,Munich, Germany Application November 5, 1952, Serial No. 318,841

3 Claims. (Cl. 84-394) This invention relates to tone or pitchadjustment in brass wind instruments. More particularly this inventionrelates to an improved brass wind instrument construction which includesintegral structure for obtaining true faultless tuning under widelydiverse performance conditions.

In practically all present valved brass wind instruments only a fewtones are precisely in tune, most of the tones being regularly too highor too low, due to the construction of the instrument. Accordingly, theperformer must drive them with the mouthpiece, which, however, is notalways possible to the required degree. This method of operationendangers the setting up and holding of the tones, is detrimental to thetone color (timbre), weakens the endurance of the lips and rendersvibration difficult. Furthermore, due to the poor tuning, the 6, l0, l2and 14 aliquot tones are useless and a higher aliquot tone must be usednecessitating a longer air column.

' Among the known causes for the tuning defects are: changes in airtemperature which change the number of air molecules in the instrument(cold air makes the instrument lower while warm air makes it higher intone); the difference between pure aliquot tones and the tempered tuningof present day practical music; the difference between the actual lengthof the individual graduated valve tube channels and the required lengthsof the same upon combined employment of the valves; the varied length ofthe cylindrical middle tube due to use of the valve which changes thetotal course of the air column and thereby the degree of the konik (coneformation); the change in pitch when obtaining extremely strong soundsdue to increased introduction of air into the instrurnent and a greaterdensifying of the air whereby the'breadth and number of vibrations inthe air molecules experience a change; and pitch changes due to diversemethods of blowing to which the performers are frequently forced by overexertion of the lips in order still to bring forth strong tones of longduration.

' The above named factors tend in practice to compensate each other;however, they may have an additive effect and operate in the samedirection so strongly upon the height of the tone that only a performerof the very highest qualifications can correct the great defects.Further, with conventional valved brass wind instruments the performercan experimentally compensate for changes in air temperature byadjustment of the main tune passage and the valve tune passages, butthis only during a pause in the playing. All other prior attempts toreduce the above enumerated drawbacks have proved unsatisfactory inpractice; the known devices for adjusting the length of the airpassageways at the first and third valve attain only a partial solutionin the most favorable case because only such tones whose air streampasses through the first and third valve passageways are influenced.

Accordingly, it is the main object of the instant invention to eliminatethe above enumerated difficulties and produce a valve wind instrumentwhich is inherently capable of precise adjustment to produce pure tonalqualities under diverse ambient conditions of operation. It is a furtherobject to produce a tone adjustment means for valved brass windinstruments which is readily and easily manipulated during the operationof the instrument. It is a still further object of the invention toprovide a tone adjusting structure which may compensate to the high andthe low side of the medial basic tonal pitch. Other distinct objectswill become apparent from the description that follows.

The instant invention proposes to avoid the above enumerateddifficulties by combining the excellent characteristics of the singlebrass wind instrument which is capable of automatically correcting tonefaults due -to ambient circumstances, i. e., a trombone, within thestructural arrangement of valved brass wind instruments. Therectification permitted by adjustment of the main slide of conventionaltrombones readily eliminates tonal faults due to the previouslyenumerated circumstances, but such structure up to the present time hasnot been satisfactorily incorporated into other valved brass windinstruments. This failure in all probability stems from the fact thatthe performer of a valved brass wind instrument is normally fullyoccupied with the maneuvers of operating the various valves with onehand while supporting the instrument with the other. Up to the presentinvention no one has even devised a satisfactory solution whereby thesimple tone adjusting characteristics of the trombone could beincorporated into similar brass wind instruments without requiringdifficult and tiring manipulative acts on the part of the performer.

Broadly, the invention may be described as consisting of a valved brasswind instrument wherein the main tune passage is made readily slidable,in like manner to the slide of a trombone, and connected throughresilient biasing means to an operating mechanism mounted adjacent theusual digital operated valves. With this construction the performer maymove the rain tune passage against the resilient biasing to either oftwo limit positions to produce a higher or lower pitch for a desiredduration after which the main tune passage will be automaticallyrestored to its preset medial position by virtue of the resilientbiasing means. This construction is readily applicable to structurallysimple instruments such as the trumpet, French horn, and tuba, since ineach case the adjustable main tune passage is positioned relativelyclose to the digital operated valve members so that a simple structuralarrangement will suflice. In the case of large instruments, such asparlour-organs, the adjustment must be attained through intermediatecontrol mechanism such as rods-levers, etc. In the latter case asuitable control element such as a hand knob or a foot treadle may bepositioned for easy access and may function through mechanical,hydraulic or electromagnetic devices to adjust the main tune passage.

Some instruments such as tenor horns in B flat require twice the passagelength of a trumpet in B flat, while in others such as base tubas in Bflat the tune passage must be quadruple that of the trumpet in B flat.It is therefore necessary that for similar pitch corrections indilferent instruments the movement of the main tune passages must varywidely. This, however, is easily compensated for in fact that suchinstruments usually employ two movable channels or passageways so that,as in the case of doubled tune passageways in tenor horns, movement ofthe passageways changes the length of the air columns by quadruple thelength of movement of the actuator due to the fact that four passagetubes are displaced relative to each other. In such case it is advisableto provide aplurality of actuating members or levers so that one maymaintain one set of tune passageways at test while the other actuates asecond set and vice versa.

Preferably the main tube passageway is arranged in a manner similar tothe main slide of trombones so that movement thereof may correspond withthe previously conceived mental concept of direction of movements whichthe performer has inherently derived from making tone corrections onconventional type instruments.

If the main tune passage is actuated to its limit positions by twolevers, then the tone raising lever should have a direction of movementtowards the mouth and the tone lowering lever a direction away from themouth. In the case of pedals it should be arranged so that when thepedals are depressed the tone becomes lower and when the pedals areraised the tone becomes higher.

One of the advantages of the instant invention is apparent in caseswhere the performer is to play an entire portion of a composition in anextremely strong sound, for example pianissimo, or in case he has toemploy a damper which raises all tones of his instrument uniformly, thenall tones would sound too high. Nevertheless the performer must correctindividual tones and if he has in addition to correct all tonesdownwardly this would be difiicult for him and tire him. Also he wouldhave to leave the safe basis of the basic tune fixed, i. e. the maintune passage or slide would remain in the initial position. Bylengthening the basic position of the main tune passage into therequired new position one may overcome this difiiculty. The new basicposition provides the basic tune in combination with quiet blowing (orwith the higher making damper) with the old or basic sound pitch. Uponblowing loudly (and with a lower making damper) it is correspondinglythe reverse.

The necessary supplemental basic register positions, as for blowingextremely loudly, and for use of badly tuning dampers, may bepredeterminedly fixed by conventional detent devices. These devicescould, like in the organ and parlour organ, be named as piano and forteregisters. With them the performer can also approach with the greatestease the extreme limits of sound strengths.

Having generally disclosed the invention an exemplary embodiment asapplied to a trumpet will now be specifically described with referenceto the attached drawings, and in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a partial schematic, partial fragmentary view of theinvention applied to a trumpet.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views of particular elemental parts of theinvention.

In the drawing, 12 illustrates the slidable main air tube or passagewayof a conventional trumpet and which is adapted to reciprocate withoutresistance in the usual fixed support tubes or passageways 14, theremainder of the trumpet structure being omitted for the sake of claritywith the exception of the conventional digital operated valve members(three in number) indicated generally by the numeral 1. Mounted upon thecylinder of the second or middle valve 1 is a guide member 3 having acentral cylindrical bore. This guide member includes a socket element 2which may be fixedly connected to the middle valve cylinder by anyconventional means such as screws, soldering, etc.

A reciprocable or slidable rod section 4 is mounted in the cylindricalbore of the guide 3 and carries at its right-hand extremity acylindrical or tubular sleeve support member 6, the latter beingconnected to the rod as by means of a rivet or cotter pin 5. Thecylindrical extension or supporting sleeve 6 in turn supports a threadedsocket 7 upon which an adjustable closure cap 8 is mounted, the cap 8being adapted to be threaded to and fro on the socket 7.

A second rod section 10 extends within the bore of the support sleeve 6and has at its left-hand end a plurality of semi-spherical depressionsand, at its right-hand end, is threaded for cooperation with aturnbuckle sleeve 11. The turnbuckle sleeve 11 in turn is threaded upona rodlike extension 13 which is integrally connected to the reciprocabletube passageway or slide 12. It will thus be .pins, etc.

apparent that the rodlike extension 13, sleeve 11 and rod section 10cooperate to form an adjustable linkage connection between the slide 12and the rod section 4. In this respect the threaded socket 7 houses aconventional locking detent structure including a spiral spring and aball 9, the ball 9 being spring urged to cooperate with the depressionsin the left end of the rod section 10 and locks such rod section to thesleeve 6 and therewith the rod section 4.

Adjustment of the relative spacing between the ends of the rod sections10 and 4 are accommodated by virtue of the threaded lock nut 8 which maybe loosened to permit movement of the ball 9 into any of the depressionscarried by the. rod section 10. With the above construction theright-hand end of the rod section 4 can be brought into five ditferentpredetermined distances (corresponding to different registers) from theleft-hand end of the rod section 10 by virtue of the five depressionsformed in the rod section 10 and the cooperation therewith of thelocking detent 7, 8 and 9.

The turnbuckle 11 permits finer difierential adjustments between the rodsection 4 and the slide 12. In one direction of rotation the turnbucklesleeve 11 separates the rodlike extension 13 from the rod section 10 andthereby the slide 12 from the rod section 4; while in the otherdirection of rotation the turnbuckle 11 brings the rodlike extension 13and the rod section 10 closer together and thereby the slide 12 and rodsection 4 in like manner. The several rod sections 4, 10 and 13cooperate together to provide a simple unitary control device forcorrecting tonal faults while permitting precise and fine adjustment fordifferent ambient conditions.

On each side of the guide 3 there are provided opposedseating flanges 16which are aflixed to the rod section 4 and which cooperate withrespective spiral springs 15 disposed between such flanges and theadjacent side face of the guide member 3. The springs 15 are of equalweight or tension and ftmction to resiliently urge the rod section 4 toa medial or central position. Displacement of the rod section to eitherside of the centered position compresses either of the respectivesprings 15 to store energy therein for subsequently returning the rodsection to the centered position upon release of the displacement force.

A depending noselike extension 17 integrally projects from the guide 3and includes a central rectangular opening which functions as a seat fora second guide bar 18 fixedly mounted therein as by riveting or bycotter The right-hand end of the guide bar mounts a crosshead member 22having a guide bore (not illustrated) for accommodating and guiding therod section 4 in its to and fro movement.

A pair of opposed slidable shoe members 20 are mounted to reciprocatealong the bar 18 on either side of the nose 17 and include upwardlyprojecting arms 23 for a purpose hereinafter explained. A second pair ofhelical springs 19 are disposed about the bar 18 between the inneropposed end faces of the respective shoes 20 and the coaxial faces ofthe nose 17 to thereby resiliently urge the shoe members 20 away fromthe nose 17. Flange members 21 are fixedly mounted on the bar 18 andserve to limit the movement of the shoes 20 under the action of thesprings 19.

The upwardly projecting arms 23 of the shoe members 20 may be made ofany suitable spring type metal or like substance whereby they may besnapped over the rod section 4 and retain the same with a relativelyloose grip. These arms support a pivot pin or arbor 25 upon which isrotatably fixed a key operated cam element 26, 27. The cam 27 has anactive surface along an eccentric radius to the pivotal axis 25 andfunctions to lock the rod section 4 to the key member 26 when the key isdepressed in a direction of the arrow. This action also serves to lockthe rod section 4 via cam 27 and the pivotal axis 25 to the slidableshoe member 20 and prevents any looseness or lateral play in thestructural arrangement. Suitable springs 28 are positioned to hold thekey levers 26 in a normal upright and inoperative position wherein therod section 4 is free from contact with the cams 27 or the shoes 20.

When blowing, the instrument is held with the left hand in such a mannerthat the thumb and ring finger may freely and movably rest upon therespective lever keys 26 without pressure. If now a tone is blown whichwould, for example, sound too high, then the performer presses with thethumb against the back lever key 26. Through this pressure, thecorresponding sliding shoe becomes connected firmly with the pull rodsection 4, and through further pressure the pull rod section 4 isdisplaced in the direction of the pressure against resistance of thecentering springs 15 and 19. The air tune passage or slide 12 connectedwith the pull rod section 4 is thus brought into the position requiredfor the correction.

Should the performer have to discontinue the correction in the nextmoment, such is immediately obtained by I a release of pressure, and asmall movement of the thumb contrary to the previous direction ofpressure for releasing the lever key 26 and cam 27 from connection withthe pull rod section 4. The spring pressure of the spring 19 is socalculated that the spring 28 exerts a stronger pressure than the spring19, so that the pull rod section 4 returns with high speed into itsoriginal position without being hindered by the slowness of the fingermovement. In case of necessity however it is also possible to effect aslow return of the pull rod section 4 by feel as by maintaining a lightretarding thumb pressure since the pressure difference between thesprings is small. In this manner it is possible to make both rapid andalso slow corrections.

When the thumb has pressed the air tune passage on slide 12 into theabove-mentioned position of correction, it is possible to retain thering finger in place because the second sliding shoe with thecorresponding lever key is not influenced by the movement of the pullrod section 4. This is of particular advantage when it is intended to goimmediately from the above mentioned correcting position, attained bythe pressure of the thumb, into a new correcting position which lies atthe other side of the basic tonal position, whereby upon return of thethumb, and shortly before reattainment of the basic position, the ringfinger may be pulled upon or pressed against its lever key to providethe new change without delay.

Should the performer want to insert or remove a register for the soundstrengths during a performance, he may block the movement of pull rodsection 4 by simultaneously pressing both lever keys 26 with one handand directly grasp the slide or air tune passage 12 with the other handto move it against the resistance of the detent spring in the cap 8.This latter adjustment may be easily accomplished during a few rest barswithout requiring removal of the instrument from playing position.

By turning the double threaded turnbuckle 11 the performer can make fineadjustments in the position of slide 12 to compensate for any change inthe temperature of the air.

In the case of instruments which have the adjustable main tunepassageway or slide tube oriented to reciprocate along an axis which isat angle to the valve alignment and mouthpiece it is necessary to eitherreorient the slide to coincide with the directional axis of themouthpiece and valves or to incorporate a supplemental linkage as aconnection between the end of the rod terminal section 13 and theangularly related slide piece. In the former case, the entire instrumentconfiguration must be rearranged, while in the latter, it is possible toadopt existing instrument structures to operate according to the instantinvention.

To accomplish this latter innovation it is only necessary that theterminal rod section 13 be connected, as by a pivot pin, to one end of abell crank or pivoted lever which in turn has its other end fixedlyconnected to the adjustable main tune slide'tube. Due to the firmsupport provided for the pull rod section 4 by the particulararrangement previously described, it is unnecessary to support extendedterminal end section 13 by any additional means.- However, if such isdesired, it is easily provided by permitting the extended end of section13 to reciprocate to and fro in a suitable boss or hearing supported ona fixed portion of the instrument. The translating bell crank or levermay also be pivoted about an arbor or pin supported on a fixed portionof the instrument. No further change in structure is required.

With the above construction, the instrument may be operated in anidentical manner to that previously described for the trumpet, the onlydifference being that the changes in length of main air tune passagewaywill be provided indirectly by the translating linkage (i. e., bellcrank or lever) in lieu of directly by the rod section 13.

Adjustments, either up or down, of the register from its basic position(i. c. with ball 9 in the central one of the five depressions on rodsection 10) may also be attained in identical manner to that previouslydescribed, the only difference being that the performer will actuate theair tune slide tube in a direction which is at an angle to thedirectional movement of rod sections 10 and 13, the movement beingtranslated to section 10 via the translating linkage (i. e. bell crankor lever).

In the case of large instruments, such as parlour organs, the controldevice of the present invention may be located adjacent the keyboard ineasy reach of the performer and the movements of the rod section 13 maybe translated to the adjustable main air tune passageway by any suitableservo mechanism such as a hydraulic system, or an electromagnet, or anelectric motor in the usual manner of follow-up mechanisms.

It further will be obvious to those skilled in the art that theresilient biasing springs 15 and 19 may be replaced by other likebiasing means such as hydraulic or pneumatic dashpot constructions,electro magnets, and permanent magnets. In the latter case, the guidepost 3 may be formed as a permanent magnet while the central por tion ofrod section 4 may be magnetized so that it will always tend to centeritself within the bore of the guide post.

One important advantage of the instant invention resides in the factthat the tonal corrections may be accomplished by simple manipulativemovements in a manner which is natural and instinctive to the performerand which also closely corresponds to movements inately acquired inprevious experience on conventional like instruments. This advantagedispenses with the need for additional training and requires only a fewpractice sessions for the performer to fully familiarize himself withthe new movements.

What is claimed is:

l. A brass wind instrument having at least one tubular main air tunepassage including a section which is readily slidably adjustable tochange the length of the passage, a control device connected to saidslidable section and being readily displaceable in two directions, saidcontrol device including resilient means biasing said device and saidsection to a basic position, and actuator structure connected to saidcontrol device for displacing same to either side of said section basicposition.

2. A brass wind instrument according to claim 1 in which said controldevice includes adjustable sections which are displaceable one fromanother, and means to adjust the spacing of said sections from eachother.

3. In a brass wind instrument having at least one tubular main air tunepassageway including a section which is slidably adjustable to changethe length of the passageway, said instrument further including at leastone valve element for controlling the flow of air in said passageway,the improvement which comprises means for selectively 7 adjusting pitchand tone and including a reciprocable control device positioned adjacentsaid valve element and including separate displaceable and spaciallyadjustable sections, translation structure connecting one of saidadjustable control sections to said slidable air tune passage- Waysection, manipulative control structure connected to a second one ofsaid control sections adjacent said valve element and adapted toreciprocate said second section in either direction, and adjustmentmeans connecting all said control sections in predetermined spacialrelation- 8 ship to each other'and said slidable air tune passagewaysection and said valve element and wherein there are biasing meansconnected to said second control section yieldingly biasing it to acentral position.

References Cited in the file of this patents UNITED STATES PATENTS328,273 Conn Aug. 7, 1906 FOREIGN PATENTS 305,385 Great Britain Feb. 7,1929

